Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas Park Crater of Diamonds Lake Ouachita Region Southwest Central North Central Northwest Park Activity Diamond Digging Watchable Wildlife Hiking Kayaking / Canoeing Trail Type Trail Difficulty Author Arkansas State Parks Staff [X] Waymon Cox Zoie Clift Meg Matthews Chris Adams Monika Rued Sarah Reap Megan Ayres Moore Tayler Markham Sasha Bowles Chris Pistole Grady Spann Heather Johnson Heather Runyan [X] Jenn Menge Billy Nations Jeanette Larson Kayla Gomance Mystina Swaim Paul Butler Robin Gabe Ryan Smith Tara Gillanders Adam Leslie Bonnie Marberry Cara Curtis Cathy Combs David Armstrong Don Simons Elizabeth Kimble Emma O'Neal Ivory Detter Joe Jacobs John Morrow Jonathan Wirges Kara Helton Kelly Farrell Matt Manos Pearl Jangjiravat Rebekah Spurlock Shelley Flanary Zachary Fisher Alex Hedegard Amy Griffin Amy Griffin Brian Whitson Devin Moon Haley Johnson Jackie Rupp Jason Baumgartner Jason Parrie Jeanette Larson Josh Williams Kristina Root Kylee Cole Leita Spears Leita Spears Maggie Howard Mary Buchman Melissa Ray Pete Salmon Rachel Lewis Randy Pearson Ron Salley Sarah Wells Seth Boone Tim Scott Date Published February 2026 January 2026 August 2025 August 2024 December 2023 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 May 2022 March 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 December 2018 September 2017 June 2016 March 2016 Pagination Previous page ‹ Previous Page 5 Next page Next › Amid Change, Some Things Remain the Same at the Crater of Diamonds Aug 2020 ⁄ Waymon Cox Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! We have all seen changes this year due to COVID-19, and many of us are still adjusting. Guidelines and restrictions—detailed on the park’s website at https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/crater-diamonds-state-park--have been put in place to help protect our visitors and staff. With the many disruptions we have faced this... Photo Essay: Island Adventures on Lake Ouachita Aug 2020 ⁄ Jenn Menge Arkansas’s largest lake, Lake Ouachita, has 1000 miles of pristine shoreline and over 200 different islands to explore. Lake Ouachita State Park, located in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains, exists in part to provide access to the lake’s recreational and educational opportunities. Two Visitors Find Large Diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park Jul 2020 ⁄ Waymon Cox Confirmation of two large diamonds found at Crater of Diamonds State Park made for a busy week last week at the park, one of the only places in the world where the public can search for diamonds in their original volcanic source. Visitor Finds 2.23-Carat Diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park Jun 2020 ⁄ Waymon Cox The summer of 2020 started with a sparkling surprise for one western Arkansas woman. Fifty-six-year-old Beatrice Watkins, of Mena, visited Arkansas’s Crater of Diamonds State Park, in Murfreesboro, on Saturday, June 20, with her daughter and granddaughters. Within 30 minutes of arriving, she had unknowingly picked up the largest diamond found there, so far this year. Video: The Historic and Healing Three Sisters Springs May 2020 ⁄ Jenn Menge Though the area is no longer used as a resort, the three individual springs still flow freely for Lake Ouachita State Park visitors to enjoy to this day. As you enjoy the video of the Three Sisters Springs, imagine the rejuvenating power of the cool water. Spring Mining Tips Feb 2020 ⁄ Waymon Cox Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! Over the next few weeks, travelers across the country will be making plans for spring break travel, and many will choose to visit Crater of Diamonds State Park. Spring break can be a great time to visit Arkansas’s diamond site, and the following tips can help you make the most of your diamond-searching adventure! Winter Forecast for Crater of Diamonds State Park Dec 2019 ⁄ Waymon Cox We’ve had lots of cold weather over the past few weeks, and many of us are wondering what kind of winter we’re in store for this year. Taking a look back at previous winters and considering more recent weather trends may give us a good idea of what to expect in the months to come. Diamond Searching by Specific Gravity Nov 2019 ⁄ Waymon Cox Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! When digging dirt to sift for diamonds at the park, finding certain other minerals can make your search more productive. Look for locations where running water has carved a path through the plowed dirt of the diamond search area. As water from runoff and other sources wash through the field, it picks up heavier materials and... VISITOR FINDS 3.29-CARAT DIAMOND AT CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK Oct 2019 ⁄ Waymon Cox After summer-like heat gave way to cooler temperatures this week, 65-year-old Pat Choate and her husband John made the two-hour drive from their home in Jacksonville, Arkansas to search for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro. Originally from the Murfreesboro area, the couple has visited Arkansas’s diamond site numerous times over the years and have... New Excavation Project Ongoing at Crater of Diamonds Oct 2019 ⁄ Waymon Cox A lot has happened at Crater of Diamonds State Park in the past few days, as a new trenching plan seeks to expose unsearched diamond-bearing material and create new opportunities for diamond finds in the park’s 37.5-acre search area. Pagination Previous page ‹ Previous Page 5 Next page Next ›
Amid Change, Some Things Remain the Same at the Crater of Diamonds Aug 2020 ⁄ Waymon Cox Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! We have all seen changes this year due to COVID-19, and many of us are still adjusting. Guidelines and restrictions—detailed on the park’s website at https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/crater-diamonds-state-park--have been put in place to help protect our visitors and staff. With the many disruptions we have faced this...
Photo Essay: Island Adventures on Lake Ouachita Aug 2020 ⁄ Jenn Menge Arkansas’s largest lake, Lake Ouachita, has 1000 miles of pristine shoreline and over 200 different islands to explore. Lake Ouachita State Park, located in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains, exists in part to provide access to the lake’s recreational and educational opportunities.
Two Visitors Find Large Diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park Jul 2020 ⁄ Waymon Cox Confirmation of two large diamonds found at Crater of Diamonds State Park made for a busy week last week at the park, one of the only places in the world where the public can search for diamonds in their original volcanic source.
Visitor Finds 2.23-Carat Diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park Jun 2020 ⁄ Waymon Cox The summer of 2020 started with a sparkling surprise for one western Arkansas woman. Fifty-six-year-old Beatrice Watkins, of Mena, visited Arkansas’s Crater of Diamonds State Park, in Murfreesboro, on Saturday, June 20, with her daughter and granddaughters. Within 30 minutes of arriving, she had unknowingly picked up the largest diamond found there, so far this year.
Video: The Historic and Healing Three Sisters Springs May 2020 ⁄ Jenn Menge Though the area is no longer used as a resort, the three individual springs still flow freely for Lake Ouachita State Park visitors to enjoy to this day. As you enjoy the video of the Three Sisters Springs, imagine the rejuvenating power of the cool water.
Spring Mining Tips Feb 2020 ⁄ Waymon Cox Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! Over the next few weeks, travelers across the country will be making plans for spring break travel, and many will choose to visit Crater of Diamonds State Park. Spring break can be a great time to visit Arkansas’s diamond site, and the following tips can help you make the most of your diamond-searching adventure!
Winter Forecast for Crater of Diamonds State Park Dec 2019 ⁄ Waymon Cox We’ve had lots of cold weather over the past few weeks, and many of us are wondering what kind of winter we’re in store for this year. Taking a look back at previous winters and considering more recent weather trends may give us a good idea of what to expect in the months to come.
Diamond Searching by Specific Gravity Nov 2019 ⁄ Waymon Cox Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! When digging dirt to sift for diamonds at the park, finding certain other minerals can make your search more productive. Look for locations where running water has carved a path through the plowed dirt of the diamond search area. As water from runoff and other sources wash through the field, it picks up heavier materials and...
VISITOR FINDS 3.29-CARAT DIAMOND AT CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK Oct 2019 ⁄ Waymon Cox After summer-like heat gave way to cooler temperatures this week, 65-year-old Pat Choate and her husband John made the two-hour drive from their home in Jacksonville, Arkansas to search for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro. Originally from the Murfreesboro area, the couple has visited Arkansas’s diamond site numerous times over the years and have...
New Excavation Project Ongoing at Crater of Diamonds Oct 2019 ⁄ Waymon Cox A lot has happened at Crater of Diamonds State Park in the past few days, as a new trenching plan seeks to expose unsearched diamond-bearing material and create new opportunities for diamond finds in the park’s 37.5-acre search area.
